Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Treatment Options For Canine Lymphoma (Canine Lymphoma)

Canine Lymphoma

Canine Lymphoma has a very high remission rate, however, there is a much lower chance of survival without proper treatment. Without any form of treatment, the average survival rate for a dog after diagnosis is about two months.

With a combination of anti-cancer medication, as well as intensive chemotherapy, the survival rate for a dog suffering from lymphoma can be increased to 60-90%.

There are many treatment options available, each with its own risks and benefits. The most effective treatment is a combination of all or several of these treatment types.

1. Chemotherapy
This is the most common, and most effective treatment for canine lymphoma.
Chemotherapy generally refers to the treatment of cancer with powerful drugs that kill cells. These drugs are used to kill the cancer cells, but can harm healthy cells as well (which causes the side effects associated with this treatment). Combination chemotherapy usually involves chemotherapy drugs in addition to radiation treatment, which is usually the most effective against canine lymphoma.

The chemotherapy process for dogs is slightly less intensive than chemotherapy in humans, since the dosage ratio of the cell-killing drugs is much lower.

The veterinarian responsible for selecting chemotherapy drugs that will best help your dog is called an oncologist. Certain chemotherapy drugs are used for each type of cancer, and an oncologist is responsible for choosing the drugs that will have the lowest toxicity rate for your dog's healthy cells.

2. Immune System Booster
Treating your dog with an immune booster in addition to chemotherapy treatments is a good way to further increase your dog's survival rate. Most immune boosters include glyconutrients, which are required for healthy immune system function in canines.

3. Proper Nutrition
With a systemic cancer like lymphoma, proper nutrition is extremely important in increasing your dog's odds of survival. According to veterinary studies, dog foods that are high in carbohydrates “feed” the cancer, causing visible acceleration of the tumor's progression.

Dog foods that are high in protein are said to "starve" the cancer, while providing good support for your dog's healthy systems.
Dog food that is enriched in Omega 3 fatty acids has proven especially effective against canine lymphoma.

4. Surgery
In some cases, surgery to remove the malignant lymphoma tumor is suggested for a treatment option. Surgery is usually used in combination with chemotherapy, and is generally only suggested if the tumor is extremely large or is endangering vital organs. Fatal complications can arise with a surgical removal of a tumor, especially if a portion of the endangered organ is also removed.

Canine Lymphoma

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